Zelensky asks US to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to the American administration with a request to provide Kyiv with a license to produce missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

He published the corresponding statement on his page on the social network X.

“The US is producing an insufficient number of missile defense missiles, which could lead to crises in various regions of the world. 60–65 missiles per month is nothing compared to the current challenges. This is no secret to anyone, and Russia knows it. We need to expand production. I asked the previous US administration and I am asking the current administration to grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles,” Zelensky wrote.

According to him, issuing the license would help not only Ukraine but also the Middle East, as well as any other country that Washington decides to support. Zelensky also stressed that until a European missile defense system is created, Ukraine will need support from the United States.

The Ukrainian leader also touched on the topic of negotiations, proposing to sit down at the table before winter sets in. According to him, this depends on “pressure on Russia from the US and Europe in the form of sanctions.” “We must be strong and impose even more sanctions against them,” he said.

Zelensky separately raised the issue of bilateral cooperation in the field of drones. According to him, Ukraine was ready to conclude a framework agreement with the US on UAVs and agreed to the American side’s conditions — testing, training, and use of Ukrainian systems in the air, on land, and at sea. However, the agreement has still not been signed, even though Ukraine already has similar documents with a number of countries in the Middle East and Europe, and an agreement with the EU is also being prepared.

“I think this cooperation could be enormous — the most powerful of its kind in the world. We need to reach agreements, not just discuss this. Take the necessary steps and do it as quickly as possible. For that, we need President Trump to give the go-ahead,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also noted that American companies possess advanced technologies that Ukraine does not have, but that Kyiv is ready to share its “rich combat experience.” Speaking about possible European representatives at the negotiations, he did not give a definitive answer, indicating that “it is for Ukraine and Europe to decide,” and adding that Russia’s own readiness for dialogue in the presence of European countries is no less important.

The problem of a missile shortage for air defense systems had been intensifying over several months. In January, Zelensky said he had to personally “squeeze out” every missile package from European countries and the US. In April, he warned that Kyiv’s air defense missile stockpiles could run out any week, calling the situation critical: “We have such a shortage right now, it cannot get any worse.” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat, for his part, said that Ukraine had been put “on starvation rations” for missiles due to supply problems.

Reuters had previously reported on the risk of a critical shortage of American air defense missiles for Ukraine. The outlet noted that during the US conflict with Iran, the United States and its allies themselves had expended a significant portion of their arsenals. Zelensky himself had said the same.

On May 30, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Washington would continue to support Ukraine’s defense capability and ensure military supplies to Kyiv.

“We want them to be able to defend themselves, and we will find a way to help them do that,” he said.

Moscow condemns any Western assistance to Kyiv.